Luke's Blog

We phoned the hospital (Vincent Paloti in Pinelands) and they said we should bring her in if she has 3 strong contractions lasting 40 - 60 seconds within 10 minutes or if her water breaks, so we started taking note of the strength and duration of contractions. At 3:00am we determined that the contractions were of sufficient strength so we drove through to the hospital.

When we go to hospital they let us into the labour ward. For the next 6 hours or so Celiah Ann experienced progressively stronger contractions. To help alleviate the pain she alternated between being in the tub, on the pregnancy ball, sitting or standing. Dr. Jackie Searle came in at 8:30 to see how far she was but she wasn't yet fully dilated so she left us for an hour. By 10:30 Celiah Ann was having stong urges to push so Dr. Jackie came back and we went into the final stages of labour. Everyone commented how Celiah Ann did so well and was so composed even without an epidural or pain killers. The final stretch was very gruelling but at 11:18 baby was fully out had taken his first breaths.

Just after baby was born they asked me what I was going to name baby. I said his name was going to be Andrew after my father (who passed away in 2003). Celiah Ann was very happy and said she had to hold back tears in her eyes because that is what she would've wanted to name baby too.

After that it was time for some well deserved rest for mommy and baby.

Our first visitors were Celiah Ann's parents and granny who came that afternoon.

Later my mom, sister and her husband came through, as well as Rebekah and Amanda, 2 of Celiah Ann's sisters.